Fantastic golfing experience at the Links at Greystone in Walworth, NY just outside Rochester! World class design by Architect Craig Schreiner; fantastic course conditions & setup by GCSAA Superintendent Tim Hahn, and playing partner Dusty Odenbach, PGA Director of Golf and 4th generation of the Dolomite mining and golf legacy made for an extra special round of golf. Golf like it ought to be all the time!
This links masterpiece opened in 1996. The third in succession of the Odenbach mining family turned golfing family—Shadow Lakes—Shadow Pines—then Greystone! At 7200+ yards from the tips, with sloping greens and fairways it is all the golf course you could ever want! The greens are rolling pure and true!
Hole Nos. 5 through 8; what I call Odie’s Valley (Odie an affectionate nickname for Odenbach) is particularly scenic on an overwhelmingly scenic golf course! Dusty’s grandfather, the golf originator of the family in the 1980s, doesn’t play the difficult uphill par-4 7th hole hole with a blind approach anymore. Legacy has its privileged. I hit two great shots and a magnificent chip and putt to score a par, in effect a gift from Heaven on the hole they call High Heaven!
All the shots are played and all the clubs used on this golf course. Very playable with one golf ball. There was a memorable photo opp with Dusty amidst the grey stones high right of the fairway on the par-5 12th hole. The second nine meanders up the slope to give you an especially dramatic view coming down to the par-4 home hole. As an ode to the legacy I managed to par the 18th too!
Playing with Dusty was an exceptional experience and a great opportunity to see the golf course and family business through his eyes and heart. A top prospect out of UCONN in baseball he pitched in the Kansas City Royals system for four years. While he didn’t make it to the major leagues in baseball his contributions to the family legacy are above major league. Planting of fescue and tree removals for scenic vistas and views of the clubhouse coming in are the top priorities to transform the links design ever closer to a true links course.
The reality that the family sold the mining and golfing operations only to buy back the Shadow Lakes and Greystone ten years later tells you all you need to know about the Odenbach family and their love of golf and the golf business. The Clubhouse and Stoney’s Pub have a historic golf memorabilia flair. The golfing and culinary experiences are a magnet for corporate tournaments and league play. A travel foursome from Toronto joined me and Dusty at the bar for lunch. I was intrigued by and loved the Speedie Marinated Beef with House Made Cheese Sauce on a Pretzel Roll.
I have seen the best play the game of golf. Dusty’s athleticism and club head speed is amazing! Our round and good time together is what golf is all about. Go and play with folks you already know like the Canadian foursome was doing today at Greystone. Go and play by yourself and meet someone new through golf like I did today. Either way it is a win-win!
(Andy Reistetter; Facebook Post with 30 Pics; 7-17-19)
